Trends in Podcast Download Frequency Over Time, Podcast Use, and Digital Literacy in Foreign Language and Literature Courses

Podcasts used as supplemental material (PSM) and podcasts integrated into the curriculum (PIC) are complementing, extending, and transforming the traditional face-to-face classroom as well as blended and online courses. This paper examines podcast download frequency among students in foreign language and literature courses over a four-year period by using both students’ digital literacy skills and the instructional use of the podcasts (whether PSM or PIC) as predictors. As it analyses four years of trend data between the Fall semester of 2007 and the Fall semester of 2011, our study reveals that the download frequency among the PIC group was relatively higher than that of the PSM group. What’s more, it shows that students’ digital literacy moderated their frequency of download. This is consistent with previous findings that suggest that instructors can offer students an advantage by using thoughtfully planned and well-designed podcasting activities, which help their students hone the skills necessary for success in the second language (L2) teaching and learning environment. Trends in Podcast Download Frequency Over Time, Podcast Use, and Digital Literacy in Foreign Language and Literature Courses